Hello, New to the board so forgive me if this is long. I have a handsome son, Mark, who is 12 yrs old and in the 7th grade. He has spastic quardaplegia cp. He was diagnosed at 9 months and suffers from chronic constipation which we have been dealing with alot lately. Normally, we knew when it was "time" for him to go and would administer enemas as per the doctors instructions. But were told only to use them when he needed to empty as they would severely dehydrate him and werent medically safe to use all the time. Over the years we were told to give him mineral oil, high fiber doses in his diet and most recently polyethylene glycol 3350. The higher fiber didnt work. The mineral oil didnt have enough good result for us to justify him gagging and almost vomiting, the doctor agreed. The PG3350, we havent seen too much positive yet as well. Since my husband retired from the military and we moved to Nevada, we have noticed an increased problem with his bouts of severe constipation.
The worst was in Sep 06. He showed the "normal" signs of needing an enema but when I administered it, he soon began vomiting and gagging with no response to the enema aside from a small amount of watery bowel. I took him to our family doctor in town and he had blood work and xrays done. He found that Mark was impacted but there was no obstruction. His blood count was way off, showing a virus was running rampid. The doctor told us because he could hold no food, to give him gatorade saying that if he could keep down 1/2 oz of fluid for 10 mins before vomiting that he would absorb 33% of the liquid, which was good. Well we returned the next day for more blood work and the following day as well. Turned out he had an intestional virus along with the constipation. We had another taken and although we had done 2 enemas a day for 3 days minimal change had occured. We were told to give him enemas every other day. We have since Sept 06. I was supposed to give him one yesterday but I waited one day extra because I wasnt feeling well and couldnt drive to town for a new batch of enemas. This morning I went to town and got what he needed and gave him his enema. He soiled two goodnights as usual within 25 mins. Then he started vomiting. His abdomen has been bulging most of the day as he has filled about 6 diapers since 10:25am (Sat). But he is vomiting. Is it normal when they have chronic constipation to have bouts of vomiting and/or intestional viruses? I ask our doctor but he isnt a specialist, we dont have any close by. The nearest we have been told is almost 3 hrs away. Makes "emergent" visits difficult. Has anyone experienced this or know of anyone else who has?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. We are now considered a colostomy bag for him so he doesnt have to suffer but again, dont know if thats fair to him, for us to make a lifelong choice for him. But at the same time, it hurts to see him in pain or to suffer. We've had to deal with this for so long, and Im so tired. I just need some advice, and maybe some people who know what Im going through as a parent who cant "make him better'.

Elizabeth,
1st off hugs to your little man. My daughter is also 12, suffered a severe brain injury at birth due to oxygen deprivation. She also has CP. We have battled constipation for ever. But over the past year or so it has gotten worse, we too had to do the enema thing to get her to produce a BM.
A few weeks ago, we were at the docs for the same thing. Thought Megs had a bug, then it didn't get any better, did chest and abdominal x-rays and blood and urine work. Found out her WBC was elevated, bacteria somewhere, she was really backed up with stools, no obstruction. We put her on the Miralax, and prevacid ( as she was burping and acting suspicious) and antibiotic for the bacteria ( that they said if you are severely constipated your WBC can be elevated). Since the miralax and the prevacid we have had 4 BM's in a week. OMG that is like so wonderful to us. Before we were lucky to get her to go every 5 days and that was with help of the enema. How much of the Miralax ( polyethylene glycol) was your son taking?
When our doc seen the xrays she was to take 1 capful twice a day for 3 days, then the one cap daily after that. So far knock on wood it is helping.
Our daughter is 12 yrs old and she is an itty bit, she weighs about 53 lbs and is 51 inches tall. If we can get these bowels under control it will be a Godsend, it has been a horrific battle all her life. Hugs to you all
Tracy

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Tracy,
Hugs to Meg too ... I am so happy that you have found hope in this!! Mark gets 1 capful once a day. But I dont know if its because he is so backed up or what but I am going to ask my doctor about the prevacid and maybe upping Marks dose. Today he has stopped vomiting and the amout of stool coming has decreased significantly. I dont have the heart to give him another today ... he is exhausted.
Thank you so much for your reply and your kind words.